Doha: Qatar are just one win away from qualifying for the Olympics but victory against South Korea at the AFC U23 championships on Tuesday will mean more than a trip to Brazil.
The tournament, which has been taking place in Doha for the past fortnight, is down to the final stages.
Three of the four teams left in the competition -- Japan and Iraq are the other two sides -- will qualify for Rio if they win one of their next two matches, either in the semi-finals or, for the losers, the third/fourth play-off.
Japan and South Korea have made 15 Olympics appearances between them and not getting to Rio would represent failure.
Iraq managed a fourth place in Greece in 2004, their only appearance.
But Qatar have not qualified for the Olympics since the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
An appearance in Brazil would not only represent a first Olympics for 24 years but also provide further proof that its huge investment in football on the pitch, as well as off it, is paying dividends.
AFP
